Keywords

nonprofits, volunteer management, donor engagement, contingency theory, resource dependence theory, COVID-19

Subject Categories

Public Administration | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for human services agencies, disrupting the interdependent systems of volunteer engagement and donor support essential to nonprofit sustainability. This study integrates insights from literature, theory, and empirical analysis to examine how nonprofit organizations adapted their volunteer and donor management strategies during this prolonged crisis. Drawing on Contingency Theory and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), the research explores how organizational structures and strategies evolved in response to shifting environmental conditions, health mandates, and resource constraints. Using a multiple-case qualitative design, data was collected from semi-structured interviews with 20 leaders representing five Central Florida human services agencies, including presidents/CEOs, development directors, and volunteer coordinators. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase model, identifies adaptive patterns such as digital volunteer engagement, diversified funding, collaborative partnerships, and hybrid stewardship approaches. Complementing the empirical findings, the literature review reveals national declines in formal volunteering and shifts toward virtual engagement. The study contributes theoretically by linking contingency-based adaptability with resource-dependence strategies and offers actionable lessons for strengthening nonprofit resilience. Results emphasize the importance of flexible governance, technological investment, and cross-sector collaboration to sustain volunteer and donor engagement amid systemic disruptions. Implications extend beyond the pandemic, providing guidance for enhancing preparedness, stakeholder coordination, and long-term sustainability in the nonprofit sector.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Bryer, Thomas

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

Public Affairs

Format

PDF

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

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